Laura Walker is the Program Officer, Access at the Queensland Art Gallery (Gallery of Modern Art) and one of the recipients of a 2026 Vision Australia Award.
Laura was nominated for this award for her incredible efforts in making sure that exhibitions and artworks on display at the Queensland Art Gallery are accessible, not only for the blind and low vision community, but for people of all disabilities.
“Artworks or galleries as a whole tend to be thought of as inherently visual, as you see all this amazing art. What I look at is how each person engages in art differently.”
Laura has worked in numerous roles for the Queensland Art Gallery for close to 20 years now, and has been in this specific role for three years. While accessibility has always been incredibly important to the Gallery, it was always something that was done by her predecessor along with their other duties, so when the role was revised to focus full-time on accessibility, Laura jumped at the chance to apply.
Throughout her time in this role, Laura has also run workshops and events that are specifically tailored for people with disabilities to explore art and the creative process on their terms. It’s these smaller interactions that Laura remembers most fondly.
“The little moments are the ones I remember the most. The moments where I can connect with people. Sometimes access is just about the one person. If that person is in front of me, that is who my focus is on, and I’m making the best experience for them that I can. Whether it’s bonding over artwork or coffee, laughing about something their guide dog did. It means so much to me and I hope it means a lot to them as well.”
Laura Walker holding her award, taking a photo with Vision Australia CEO David Williamson and Chair Mark Grey
Creating a more accessible future
Ever since beginning her current position at the gallery, Laura has found that accessibility is being incorporated more and more at every level, resulting in the accessible experience people with disabilities go through is no longer an afterthought, but a core part of every facet of the gallery.
“Within our org, people are thinking about accessibility from the get go, now I’m brought into conversations much earlier so I can help much sooner, reach out to those in the community and create better experiences for all.”
This inclusivity means that the art on display is for everyone, and that is ultimately what Laura strives for every day.
“What I want people to come away with is to feel that the art is for them, that they belong here, in this gallery, it’s their space, they can engage in a way which means something personal for them.”
On hearing that she’d been nominated, and later had won a Vision Australia Award, Laura says she was taken aback by the whole thing.
“It was a bit surreal, I’m still surprised by the whole thing, it’s beyond lovely. I chatted with the person who nominated me and I was blown away by her nominating me. I didn’t even think it was real, it took me three reads for it to sink in.”
The Vision Australia awards were first handed out in 2006 to recognise and celebrate individuals and organisations who contribute their time and resources to support the work of Vision Australia and the wider blind and low vision community.
